BOZEMAN -- The Big Sky Carbon Sequestration Partnership invites legislators and the public to a workshop on carbon sequestration on Friday, March 20, in Helena. The workshop will be from noon to 1 p.m. in Room 303 of the Capitol. The event is free and open to the public.

The workshop will cover carbon sequestration technologies, including terrestrial and geologic carbon sequestration, carbon markets, benefits to the state and issues related to proposed legislation.

After an introduction and presentation, audience members will have the opportunity to ask the Big Sky Carbon Sequestration Partnership staff members questions and engage in an open forum.

Led by Montana State University, the Big Sky partnership is one of seven regional partnerships that are part of the U.S. Department of Energy's Carbon Sequestration Program. The partnership's region includes Montana, Wyoming, Idaho, South Dakota and the eastern parts of Washington and Oregon.

The Big Sky Carbon Sequestration Partnership is involved in cutting-edge carbon sequestration research and development; economic and regulatory analyses; monitoring and mitigation policies; public education and outreach; and regional demonstration projects to deploy new technologies.

The partnership includes the work of national laboratories, universities, private research institutions, government agencies and Native American tribes.

For more information, visit www.bigskyco2.org or call Lindsey Tollefson at 406-994-3755.